When Takuya spotted Koji he thought the universe was playing a prank on him. The Chosen of Light was leaning against the side of a warehouse, arms folded. As if nothing was wrong. As if nothing in the whole damn world was wrong at all. When Koji saw Takuya, he raised an arm at the elbow and cut his hand through the air in a casual wave. It was as if they were meeting there intentionally, like they'd made plans. Two friends going to grab food or something. Like he didn't even care about keeping up appearances. The absolute farce of it all burnt. Takuya couldn't say he was surprised, but at the same time it wasn't what he was expecting.

Their phone call had sounded like he was escaping, like he was tucked away in some corner as troops stormed just outside. Obviously, that wasn't the case. As a result of Koichi's premonition they'd known going in the whole conversation was faked. Still, he'd expected at least some pretense. Or maybe that was the wrong way to put it; maybe he'd hoped there was some truth to Koji's words. Maybe he wanted to see his best friend fighting the evil inside him. But when his now black gaze swung up from the cement, Takuya knew better.

"Hey buddy," he tried, approaching as if he wasn't already sure this was a trap. "You don't look so good."

Koji gave him a wry, hollow smile.

"Never felt better."

The sound of his voice caught on some edge of desperation inside him. Takuya let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slouching as the will to pretend he didn't know what had happened left him.

"Koji come on," he breathed. "You don't mean that. What did they do to you anyway?"

"Where's Koichi," Koji said, expression unchanged. "You did bring him, right? Where is he?"

"What if I didn't," Takuya shot, the sting of his words sparking his chest. Koji didn't answer right away.

"I told you I needed him."

"Yeah, you mentioned that. Didn't say for what, though."

"Doesn't matter. You should've brought him to me."

"Will you listen to yourself! This is your brother we're talking about, not some thing! Or did they make you forget that?"

"I haven't forgotten anything," Koji snapped, his smile twisting into a scowl as he pushed off the wall. "I'm trying to help him. What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to help you!" Takuya bit back, unable to stand this thing that so obviously wasn't his friend any longer. Brashly, he moved forward, grasping Koji's shoulder with some vague intentions of dragging him to safety. "I'm getting you out of here."

Like lightning Koji had grabbed Takuya and shoved him face first into the warehouse wall, holding his arm painfully at his back.

"Like hell you are," he hissed through his teeth, bringing his mouth to Takuya's ear. "You wanna help me? You don't know the first thing about it. I'm not some damsel and I don't need you to rescue me."

"You're wrong," Takuya said, pressing his forehead to the wood. "I know a lot about it. I know these people ambushed Koichi in an alleyway and tried to shove a needle into his skull. I know they kidnapped my brother and I've watched this Dark Ocean thing turn people I care about inside out. I know what I did because It told me to. Maybe I've never been there, but I've seen what it can do. And I know you- I know you don't want this for yourself or Koichi."

"How many times am I going to have to explain this," he sighed, shaking his head and smiling cruelly. "But I guess I shouldn't be surprised; you always were a moron."

"You're still in there Koji." His voice was low now, pleading and hopeful and yet burning with intensity. "Fight it! Don't you know what you're doing? Can't you see how messed up you are?"

"How messed up I am? You're a self-righteous, ignorant, stubborn ass and you want to talk about how messed up I am," Koji growled, his nails digging into Takuya's wrist. "That's rich. Do you actually want to know what they did to me, or are you just trying to make some kind of a point? Maybe I should show you? It'll happen eventually, one way or another; there's nothing you can do to stop it."

A shiver ran down Takuya's spine.

"You won't do it," he whispered, silencing the fear in his chest. "We're friends. You wouldn't do that to me."

"Friends? After what you did to my brother? What kind of fantasy world are you living in?"

"So you're going to punish me, is that it?!"

"You really don't have a clue, do you. Everyone thinks the Dark Ocean is this evil thing but it's not. It's power and it's going to change the world. We're the key you know. We're how it spreads. Isn't that what we're supposed to do as Digidestined? Even someone like you must want to be a part of something."

"I am a part of something, it's called a team. We're not giving up on you, no matter what kind of craziness comes out of your mouth."

"I have an idea," Koji said, twisting Takuya's wrist until he grunted in pain. "Let's go find Izumi, she's always been more reasonable. I'll just… persuade her, then maybe she can get through to you."

"Don't you touch her!"

"Let him go."

Koji went rigid, shivering at the voice. Wordlessly he released Takuya's arm and took a step back, allowing the Warrior of Flame to scramble away. Together, they looked back in the direction Takuya had come from. Bahar and Izumi were there, and behind them a figure stood in the dusky shadows. Slowly, he stepped forward, dark eyes glinting in the half-light as he gave them both a hard look. The younger twin couldn't help but smile, but it was a pained, sad smile.

"It's nice to see you brother," he said casually. "I didn't think you'd come."

"The Ocean did," Koichi answered, unblinking. "That's why It took you. I'm sorry Koji. I never meant for any of this to happen. I never wanted this for you."

"Why not? It's clarity, Koichi. It's how I was meant to be."

"No it's not. If you were yourself you'd know better. But the Ocean's inside your mind, you couldn't think straight if you wanted to. I know what that's like and I know, deep down, further than you can even perceive, you want to be free just like I did. I couldn't protect you, but I am going to save you."

"I don't think so," Koji smirked. "I know who you are Koichi. I know what you are. This is your destiny, always has been. All I want is for you to embrace that. I care about you, Koichi, I just want what's best for you."

"Don't talk to me like you're my brother," he spat, tucking his chin into his chest. "Don't talk to any of us like you're Koji."

"But I am Minamoto Koji. I am your brother and their friend. You can't just pretend I'm not because it's convenient."

"Of course we can't," inserted Izumi, holding a fist to her chest. "That's why we're all here, because, somewhere in there, you're still you. I don't know what's controlling you or how, I don't even understand what the Dark Ocean does to a person. I just know we're not giving up on you."

"Will you stop with all this savior crap? Is it so hard to believe I chose this? That I choose to be stronger, smarter, faster, everything any of us aspire to?"

"What about kindness," she shot back. "What about compassion and friendship and trusting in other people?"

"Weakness," Koji said with a shrug. "You all say you want to set me free but I'm freer now than I've ever been. And make no mistake, I will share that freedom with you. All of you. Once Koichi becomes what he was always meant to be there will be no other course."

"We'll see about that," Koichi snarled. He opened his mouth to say more, but Bahar moved to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder and causing him to pause. Her black eyes met his meaningfully and she gave her head a small shake.

"Don't get distracted," she chided. "You remember what it's like; it's pointless to talk to him."

Koichi's skin crawled and his mouth went dry. Anger was so much easier than acceptance… so much simpler to manipulate. Anger made him stupid, vulnerable, and right now he could afford neither. Of course he was mad at Koji, however, this broken reflection wasn't to blame. It couldn't be blamed for anything, it had no autonomy. It was just the Ocean parading around in his brother's flesh. Just a symptom of the disease. Their eyes met, once again made identical by the corruption inside both of them. The difference was Koichi knew he was corrupt, though he wasn't about to let the Ocean use that against him. No, he knew what he had to do.

"Bahar's right, there's nothing we can say that'll bring Koji back," he said in a low tone, eyes flicking to Takuya and Izumi. They both tensed, unable to contradict him and equally unable to accept their own uselessness. They weren't useless though; they were the reason he wasn't about to fail. Through everything- despite everything, they were all friends. They stood together, even as the mantles of traitor and monster were passed around. They were each other's strength. Returning his gaze to Koji, Koichi spoke directly to the darkness.

"We're going to have to take care of the source."

"Take care of it," Koji laughed. For a moment he almost sounded like himself. "I don't think so."

"We're done talking. Take me to Tache."

"Koichi…" His voice went suddenly quiet, maybe even plaintive, a small frown narrowing his eyes. For a moment he looked concerned. "Nii-san…"

"Take me to Tache," Koichi repeated, softer now. "It's time. I know you can't disobey me; the Ocean won't let you. So take me. This ends now."